Cutting and folding mechanism



June 12, 1962 L. S.-TYMA, JR ,0

CUTTING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 'glINvELMI'om Loni 3 g %mz, m 42 MWZZFIQW/ June 12, 1962 L. s. TYMA, JR

CUTTING AND FOLDING MECHANISM e Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22,- 1959j-h-Tamsyw June 12, 1962 Filed Jan. 22, 1959 L. S. TYMA, JR

CUTTING AND FOLDING MECHANISM LOuLJ 6 Sheets- Sheet a cnvwemmyw June 12,1962 L. s. TYMA, JR

CUTTING AND FOLDING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 22, 1959 June12, 1962 1.. s. TYMA, JR 3,033,719

CUTTING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5NDWHEEL wm June 12, 1962 1.. s. TYMA, JR 3,038,719

v CUTTING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 22,-1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6tut: i 1 I60 Loon! d, T j we r?- m4 MZKM 3,038,719 CUTTING AND WELDINGMECHANISM Louis S. Tyma, Jr., Hinsdale, Ill., assignor to Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware FiledJan. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 788,395 4 Claims. (Cl. 270-50) The presentinvention relates to a cutting and folding mechanism for a printingpress and more particularly to an improved folding cylinder for usetherein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting andfolding mechanism which is capable of both collect and straight deliveryand which includes novel means for converting from one type of operationto the other.

It is a more specific object to provide a novel folder mechanism havingconverting means which is readily accessible for convenient use by thepress operator, and which is positive and safe. It is a related objectto provide a folder mechanism which is adapted for two types ofoperation and which includes a novel arrangement for silencing theunused tucker blade and for locking the same into a safe positionincident to disconnecting the drive therefrom.

It is another object to provide a cutting and folding mechanism which iscompact yet inherently strong and capable of cutting through all of themany thicknesses of paper comprising a large edition of a big citynewspaper. It is a more general object to provide a cutting and foldingmechanism which is capable of reliable operation over long periods oftime and at high speed without shut down.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the attached detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified diagrammatic perspective of the cutting andfolding mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary left-hand end view of the drive gears for thefolding and cutting cylinders.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken through the spider along line 44 in FIG. 2,the right-hand end of the same being unfolded to show the gearconnections.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a right-hand end view of the means for converting betweenstraight and collect operation.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of thestraight-collect mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a transverse section taken along the line 88 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on the line 99 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, of a portion ofthe spider similar to a portion of FIG. 4 but showing componentrelationship for collect operation.

FIGS. 11a, llb and 110 are diagrammatic views depicting typical straightrun operation.

FIGS. 121142 inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing typical collectrun operation.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment it will be understood that I do not intend to limit myself tosuch embodiment but intend to cover all modifications and equivalentswhich may be included in the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Turning now to FIG. 1 which is diagrammatic, there shown is a foldingcylinder 20 and an associated cutting cylinder 21. Passing between thetwo cylinders is a web 3,33,7i9 Patented June 12, 19%2 23 which is givena first fold by a former and nipping rolls generally indicated at 24. Ina typical case the web 23 comprises a number of thicknesses which havebeen printed in separate press units and combined by conventional means.For example, in the case of a large newspaper edition the web may beformed of 64 thicknesses of paper which after folding produce a totalthickness of 128 pages.

For the purpose of severing the folded webs the cutting cylinder 21 inthe present instance employs two knives 31, 32 which cooperate withcutting rubbers 33, 34, 35 in the fold-ing cylinder 2%. The severed websare held in place with respect to the folding cylinder by pins 36, 37,38, respectively, which may be conventionally projected and retracted inthe desired sequence familiar to one skilled in the art.

Following the severing of the tail of the product, means are provided inthe folding cylinder 2% for causing the product to be tucked betweensecond-fold rollers 41, 42. In accordance with the present inventionthis tucking is accomplished by a spider 51 which is rotatably mountedwithin the folding cylinder and which has folding or tucldng blades 51,52 thereon. Means are provided within the spider 50 for rotating theblades 51, 52 and additionally the spider is bodily rotated so that thetucking blades project downwardly in timed relation with the arrival ofthe middle of each product at a point centered above the second-foldrollers 41, 42 as the product is held upon the folding cylinder by thepins 36, 37, 38. Thus double-folded products are discharged insuccession from the second-fold rollers into suitable delivery meanswhich as shown includes a fan F and a conveyor delivery belt D. It willbe understood by one skilled in the art that the folding cylinder,cutting cylinder, spider and second-fold rollers are all driven atcoordinated speeds by common drive means. This coordination will becomeapparent as the discussion proceeds and will be reviewed in connectionwith FIGS. lla-llc and 12a-12f.

Attention may next be given to the structural details of the foldingcylinder 24 which are set forth primarily in the FIGS. 3 and 4. Asstated the folding cylinder includes a spider 5i and in addition to theforegoing figures reference will be made as the description proceeds toFIGS. 9 and 10 which show the spider mechanism on somewhat enlargedscales as compared to that of FIG. 3.

For supporting the mechanism to be decribed, parallel frame members 55,so are provided for a purpose which will become clear as the descriptionproceeds. The folding cylinder 26 is of open construction and may beformed of three longitudinal members all, 62, 63, referred to in the artas struts, welded to end members 64, 65 having large diametercylindrical hubs as, 67 respectively. These hubs are journaled in theframe members 55, 56 by antifriction bearings 68, 69. This hollow hubconstruction provides large cylindrical access openings at each end ofthe folding cylinder, the latter being employed to mount the spider 50contained within the cylinder.

For the purpose of supporting the spider 50, end caps 70, 71 areprovided. Taking the end cap '70 by way of example, it will be notedthat it includes a disk portion 72 and a cylindrical bracket portion 73which is telescoped within the hollow hub 66 of the cylinder. Forsupporting the end cap 7%} and for enclosing the driving mechanism, ahollow pedestal 75 is provided which is suitably secured to the pressframe. The left-hand end cap 71 similarly has a disk-shaped flangeportion '76 and a cylindrical inwardly extending bracket portion 77which is telescoped within the hub 67.

In order to rotatably support the spider 50, anti friction bearings areprovided on the end caps 70 and 71, such bearings being indicated at 80,31 respectively.

Attention may next be given to the means employed for driving thefolding cylinder 26, cutting cylinder 21 and the spider within thefolding cylinder. For this purpose an input gear is provided on theshaft 84 of the cutting cylinder 21. The other end of the cutting shaft64 mounts a gear 86 which consists of a central portion 87 and aperipheral or rack portion 85 held together by clamps 89 together withan adjusting means 90 (FIG. 5) for adjusting the phase between them. Thepurpose of such adjustment is to correlate the phasing between thecutting cylinder 21 and the folding cylinder 22%. Meshing with the gear86 is a folding cylinder drive gear 96 which is suitably splined to theoutside of the hub 66. Thus it will be apparent that rotation of theinput gear 85, acting through the gears 86 and 96 produces rotation ofthe folding cylinder 20.

Turning next to means for driving the spider Sti, it will be noted, inthe left-hand side of FIG. 3, that the gear 85 is in mesh with a spidergear 106 having a central portion 101, a rack portion 102, clamps 163and adjusting means 104 (see FIG. 2). For coupling the gear to thespider 50 a shaft 105 is provided which is supported in bearings 166 andhaving a spline 107 at its inner end. It will be apparent that bysuitable adjustment of the adjusting means 104, which is interposedbetween the central portion 101 and the rack portion 102, the phaseposition of the spider 50 may be correlated to the cutting cylinder 21and the folding cylinder 21 and this adjustment is maintained by theclamps 103.

The spider 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9. There it will be notedthat the spider 50 has a central portion 110, which is preferably of ahollow square cross-section, having a right-hand flange 111 and aleft-hand flange 112. Secured to the flange 111 is a gear box generallyindicated at 113 which includes a sun and planet gear arrangement fordriving the folding blades 51, 52. For supporting the folding blades thespider 50 mounts shafts 115 and 116. The shaft 115 is supported inbearings 117, 118, and the shaft 116 is supported in bearings 119, 120.For rotating the shaft 115 a gear is provided at its right-hand end(FIG. 4). This gear meshes with an idler gear 126 supported on bearings127. The latter in turn meshes with a sun gear 128 which is stationarilymounted with respect to the cap member 70 and hence with respect to theframe of the press. It will be apparent that as the spider 59 rotates,the idler gear 126 moves about the sun gear 128 thereby rotating thegear 125 which is on the folder blade shaft 115 causing the latter torevolve. Somewhat similar means is employed for rotating the folderblade shaft 116. That is to say, a gear is mounted at the end of theshaft 116, and it is engaged by an idler pinion 136 mounted on bearings137. The pinion 136 reacts against the sun gear 128 as the spider isrotated to rotate the shaft 116.

For the purpose of adjusting the phasing of the folder blade shafts 115,116, means are provided for adjusting the phase or angular position ofthe sun gear 128. For this purpose the sun gear is splined to a hollowshaft 140 which extends through an opening 141 formed in cylindricalbracket portion 73 of the cap member 70 (FIG. 3). To adjust the positionof the hollow shaft 140 an adjusting means is provided. As shown in FIG.6, this means includes a forked arm fixed to the outer end of the shaft144*, and having sections 142, 143 which mount adjusting screws 144,145. The adjusting screws bear against opposite sides of a stationarypost 146 which is fixed in the end cap member 70. For holding the sungear stationary but for permitting adjustment thereof, a clamping screw147 is provided. The clamping screw is telescoped inside of the shaft140 and at its inner end is threaded to screw into the sun gear 128.When released it will be seen that the angular position of the sun gearcan be adjusted by appropriate manipulation of the screws 144 and 145upon the post 146. When the desired position of adjustment obtains thescrew 147 is tightened to the end that the sun gear 128 is drawn to theright (FIG. 3) and into clamping engagement with the inner end of thebracket portion 73 of the right-hand end cap 70.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided forsilencing one of the folder blade shafts, in the present instance shaft115, incident to operating straight by disengaging the idler gear whichdrives the shaft. Reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 10 for the details ofthis construction. In order to transport the idler gear 126 endwise andout of engagement with the gear 125, the gear 126 and its bearings 127are mounted on a sliding collar 1150. The collar 15% is movable enrlwiseon a guide shaft 151 and prevented from rotating thereon by means of akey and keyway indicated at 152 (HG. 10). In order to move the collarinwardly and outwardly, a captive screw 155 (FIG. 4) is employed havinga screw thread which engages an internal thread 157 formed in the collar150. For the purpose of rotating screw 155 a hexagonal receptacle 153 isaffixed thereto. The screw has a locating flange which is engaged bysemicircular retaining elements 161, 162 which are recessed into andsuitably secured to the casing 113 of the gear box. Detent 163 in thesector 161 tends to prevent the screw 155 from rotating except whenforcibly moved.

It will be apparent from what has been said thus far that upon rotatingthe screw 155, the thread 156 thereon will screw into the thread 1157 inthe collar 150 thereby drawing the collar in the axially outwarddirection.

In accordance with one of the aspects of the invention, theinterengaging gears 125, 126 are formed in a plurality of axially spacedsections having relieved portions therebetween so that completedisengagement may be effected by moving the idler gear 126 axiallyoutwardly, i.e., to the right as illustrated, through only a limiteddistance. Thus it will be noted that the gear 125 includes sections1251:, 1251) which are spaced apart. Similarly, the gear 126 includessections 126a, 12Gb which are normally in register with the gearsections 125a, 12512. However, when the collar 150, on which the gear126 is mounted, is moved to the right by rotating the screw 155, thesections 126a, 1261) are moved opposite the relieved portions on thegear 125 as shown in FIG. 10. As a result the shaft 115 is effectivelysilenced.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, provision is made toinsure that the silenced shaft 115 is positively held in its silencedposition so as to preclude any free movement thereof. For this purposemeans are provided for locking the shaft 115 incident to movement of thecollar 150, and thus the gear 126, into disengaged position. Thus theshaft 115 has a locking flange thereon in which i formed a slot 171, anda dog is provided on the movable collar 159 for registering with theslot. In the present instance the dog, indicated at 172, is formed as aradial finger or extension on the collar 150. A fixed notch 173 isformed in the oppositely disposed portion of the gear case 113 in radialalinement with the finger 172, and engages the inner end of the fingerto remove stress from the finger and the collar 150 on which it ismounted during operation when forces thereon are substantial. Brieflystated, the finger 172 forms a rigid bridge, engaging both the notch 171associated with the shaft 115 and the stationary notch 173 which ispositioned immediately adjacent thereto. To facilitate entry of the arm172 into the notches, the right-hand or leading edge thereof ispreferably beveled on both sides. In a practical apparatus seven andone-quarter turns of the screw 155 cause the collar to be moved from oneextreme position to the other.

In accordance with another one of the important aspects of theinvention, stationary but shiftable means are provided, which areaccessible through the hub of the folding cylinder 20, for engaging thesilencing means in the spider 50. In the present instance, this means isgenerally indicated at 179 and it includes a shaft 180 which is mountedfor axial sliding movement in a suitable opening provided in the end cap70. The shaft 180 has a hexagonal head 181 at its inner end forreception in the hexagonal socket 158 of the screw 155 in the spider. Atits outer end the shaft 180 carries a flange 182 having a manual knob183 thereon. In order to insure that the press is not operated when theshaft 180 is inwardly extended into the spider a novel interlock isprovided. The interlock includes an interlock switch 185 which isincorporated in the electrical control system of the press in which thepresent device is included, and which switch can be closed only when theshaft 180 is pulled outwardly into disengaged position. For this purposea locking member 190 is provided which is pivoted at its lower end upona bolt 191 and which has a collar portion 192 for engaging a groove 193formed in the flange 182. To close the switch 185 during the time thatthe locking member is engaged with the shaft 180, the locking member 190includes a switch operating screw 195 which is threaded therein andwhich is alined with the switch plunger 185a of the switch 185 when thelooking member 190 is in its locking position, access being providedthrough a hole 196 in the switch casing.

In operation, and when it is desired to shift from one mode of operationto another, the screw 195 is backed off thereby enabling the lockingmember 190 to be swung into the position shown in FIG. 7. This turns offthe switch and disables the press controls by means not shown but whichwill be understood by one skilled in the art. The knob 183 is pushedinwardly so that the hexagonal head 181 of the shaft 180 engages thesocket 158 of the screw 155. The knob 183 is then manually rotatedthrough approximately seven and one-quarter revolutions which moves thecollar150 carrying the gear 126 to its alternate position. It may benoted at this point that since the gear 126 which is shifted is notdrivingly connected to any shaft and thus where helical gears are used,the gear 126 may turn freely as it is withdrawn or inserted without anyaccompanying movement of the gears with which it is engaged. Followingthe above manual rotation of the adjusting shaft 180, such shaft is thenretracted by pulling upon the manual knob 183 so as to disengage theshaft head 181 from the socket 158. Following this operation the lockingmember 190 may be swung into register with the groove 193 in the shaftflange 182. Then the switch operating screw 195 may be screwed intoplace engaging and depressing plunger 185a of the switch 185 so as tocondition the interlock to make it possible to actuate the press controlcircuits for continued operation.

It will be helpful to the understanding of the invention to describebriefly the operation of the folder in which it is incorporated inconnection with the folding of an edition of a newspaper. There are twoconditions of operation: Straight run and collect run. A straight run isone wherein the pages of the same section are repeated successively onthe web. A collect run is one wherein the pages of two sections arerepeated in alternate succession on the web.

Referring generally to the first sheet of drawings, it will be seen thatthe webs are brought to the folding and cutting cylinders, 20 and 21,from the nipping rollers 24, these rollers sometimes being referred toas first-fold rollers. The folding and cutting cylinders arecollectively referred to as the folding couple and by the operationthereof: the web is cut into product sections by the cutting blades 31and 32 of the cutting cylinder 21; the folding or tucker blades 51 and52 direct the product into the folding, or second-fold, rollers 41 and42; and therefrom, the product is delivered to the fan F for dispositionupon the delivery conveyor D.

Straight run operation is diagrammatically indicated in FIGS. 11a, 11band 11c. During straight run operation each set of folding cylinder pins36, 37 and 38, respectively, is withdrawn once each revolution of thefolding cylinder and both folding, or tucker, blades 51 and 52 areactive. Thus, one set of pins, 36, pierces the leading edge of thesection from the nipping, or firstfold, rollers 24. These pins hold thesection against the folding cylinder 20 until the section is carried bythe cylinder 29 for one-third of a revolution. The pin 36 then retractreleasing the section. The folding blade 52 is brought into position bythe spider 50 and tucks the middle of the section between thesecond-fold rollers 41, 42 at the instant that the pins 36 retract fromthe leading edge of the section. Also at the same time the next set ofpins, 38, of the folding cylinder pierces the new leading edge, and thecutting knife 32 severs the trailing edge of the preceding section.

The pins 38 hold the new section against the folding cylinder so thatthe new section is carried by the cylinder for one-third of arevolution. The pins 38 then retract releasing the section at whichinstant the folding blade 51, having been brought into position by thespider 58, tucks the middle of the new section between the rollers 41and 42 and the knife 31 severs the trailing edge of the new section.Also at this instant the next set of pins, 37, of the folding cylinderpierces the new leading edge and the foregoing is repeated.

It will be seen then that during straight run operation three productsare delivered for each revolution of the folding cylinder 20 with acorresponding one and one-half revolutions of the cutting cylinder 21.

The second condition of operation is that for a collect run. In theoperation of the folder during a collect run two different sections ofthe product must be brought together, i.e., collected, before theproduct receives its final fold. Collect operation is illustrateddiagrammatically in FIGS. 12a to 12 inclusive. During collect operationone folding blade is silenced, and the timing of the projection andwithdrawal of the sets of pins 36, 37 and 38 is adjusted so that eachset of pins is withdrawn once every two revolutions of the foldingcylinder 28. Assuming that it is the set of pins 36 that pierces theleading edge of the web for the second or inside section, this sectionis held against the folding roller for one-third of a revolution of thefolding cylinder at which time the cutting knife 32 severs the trailingedge of the section and the pins 38 engage the succeeding leading edge.The folding pins 36 continue to carry the second or inside section forthe remainder of the revolution of the folding cylinder.

On the second revolution of the folding cylinder 20, the pins holdingthe inside section pierce the leading edge of the incoming overlapping,or outside, section. The pins 36 then carry the two sections one-thirdof a revolution (which is equal to one full page length) and thenretract releasing the product. tion and release of the now collectedsections, the operative folding blade 51 is brought into position by thedriven spider 50, and it tucks the center of the collected productbetween the second fold rollers 41 and 42. At the same time one of thecutting cylinder knives severs the trailing edge of the outside section.

The above cycle occurs for the sections carried on the other two sets ofpins of the folding cylinder 20. It will be thus apparent that threeproducts, i.e., collected newspapers, are delivered for each tworevolutions of the folding cylinder. By way of summary then in respectof collect action, at the moment that a complete product is delivered bythe folding blade 51 into the folding rollers 41 and 42, the three setsof pins in the folding cylinder are performing the following functions:(a) one set of pins still has attached to it the second section thatwill be carried around the folding cylinder for two revolutions; (b) thesecond set of pins has just retracted to release a collected product,with its center being delivered into the folding rollers 41 and 42 bythe folding blade 51; and (c) the third set of pins have pierced theleading edge of the web from which the first section has just been cut.It is important to note that during a collect run the fold- At theinstant of retrac- Y ing blade 52 is silenced and is retained, locked insilenced position, by the construction and arrangement hereinbeforedescribed.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a cutting and foldingmechanism embodying the features of the present invention is capable ofboth collect and straight runs and it can be converted readily from onetype of operation to the other. It is also apparent that the convertingmeans is readily accessible for convenient manipulation by the pressoperator, and it is positive and safe in its operation. The novelconstruction and arrangement for silencing the unused folding, ortucker, blade during collect runs effectively locks the silenced bladein a safe withdrawn position as an incident to its disconnection fromthe drive.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a printing press having a pair of spaced frame members, a foldingmechanism comprising, in combination, a hollow folding cylinder havingend walls and spaced longitudinal members defining openingstherebetween, means for retaining products on said cylindersubstantially over said openings, said cylinder having hollowcylindrical hubs extending outwardly therefrom and journaled in saidframe members, a spider in said cylinder, end caps mounted on said framemembers and having central cylindrical brackets extending inwardly intosaid hubs, means for mounting said spider for rotation upon saidbrackets about an axis eccentric with respect to the cylinder axis, apair of folder blade shafts mounted on said spider and having folderblades thereon, means for driving said spider and said cylinder atrelated speeds, drive means including shaft gears non-rotatably mountedon the respective folder blade shafts, a sun gear stationarily mountedat the inner end of one of said brackets, and including idler gearsinterposed between said sun gear and the shaft gears so that uponrotation of the spider the folder blades are extended outwardly throughsaid openings in said folding cylinder in sequence for foldingengagement with the corresponding product, and means including anon-rotatable but longitudinally shiftable collar journaling one of saididler gears and mounting the same for axial movement into and out ofdriving engagement with the corresponding one of the shaft gears, afirst member rigid with said one shaft gear, a second member rigid withsaid spider, and a locking member fixed to and movable with said collarand engageable with said first and second members to lock the sametogether as an incident to movement of said collar to disengage saididler gear from said one shaft gear whereby the associated folder bladeis silenced and is positively held in inoperative position.

2. In a printing press adapted for electric power operation including anelectric control system and having a pair of spaced frame members, afolding mechanism comprising, in combination, a hollow folding cylinderhaving end walls and spaced longitudinal members defining openingstherebetween, means for retaining products on said cylindersubstantially centered on said openings, end caps mounted on said framemembers and having central cylindrical brackets extending inwardly intosaid cylinder, a spider within said cylinder, means for mounting saidspider for rotation upon said brackets about an axis eccentric withrespect to the cylinder axis, a pair of folder blade shafts mounted onsaid spider and having folder blades thereon, means for driving saidspider and said cylinder at related speeds, drive means including shaftgears on the respective folder blade shafts, a sun gear stationarilymounted at the inner end of one of said brackets, and including idlergears carried by said spider and interposed between said sun gear andthe shaft gears so that upon rotation of the spider the folder bladesare extended outwardly through said openings in said folding cylinder insequence for folding engagement with the corresponding product, meansmounting one'of th'e-idler gears for movement between engaged anddisengaged positions with respect to the associated shaft gear forsilencing the associated folder blade when in the disengaged position,means including an exteriorly-accessible, manually-operable screwengageable with said mounting means for moving the same, and interlockmeans including an electric switch incorporated in the electric controlsystem of the press, said interlock means being operatively associatedwith said screw to prevent press operation so long as said screw is inengagement with said idler gear mounting means.

3. In a printing press intended for electric power operation includingan electric control system, and having a pair of spaced frame members, afolding mechanism comprising, in combination, a hollow folding cylinderhaving end walls and having longitudinal slots in the surface thereof,means for retaining products on said cylinder over said slots, means forjournaling said cylinder on said frame members, a spider rotatablymounted in said cylinder for rotation about an axis parallel thereto, apair of folder blade shafts eccentrically mounted on said spider andhaving folder blades thereon, means for driving said cylinder, spiderand folder blade shafts at related speeds so that said blades aresequentially projected through the slots in the folding cylinder forfolding engagement with a product on said cylinder, andmanually-operated means on said spider engageable with said drivingmeans for interrupting the drive to one of said folder shafts forsilencing the folder blade associated with said one folder shaft, andinterlock means including a switch incorporated in the electricalcontrol system of the press and including a switch operator, andincluding a member coacting with said manually-operated means forprecluding operation of said switch by said operator so as to preventpress operation so long as said manually-operated means is engaged withsaid driving means.

4. In a printing press intended for electric power operation andincluding an electric control system, a folding mechanism comprising, incombination, a hollow folding cylinder having longitudinal slots in thesurface thereof, means for retaining products on said cylinder over saidslots, means for journalling said cylinder for rotation, a spiderrotatably mounted in said cylinder for rotation about an axis parallelthereto, a pair of folder blade shafts eccentrically mounted on saidspider and having folder blades thereon, means for driving saidcylinder, spider and folder blade shafts at related speeds so that saidblades are sequentially projected through the respective slots in thefolding cylinder for folding engagement with a product on said cylinder,and manually-operated means on said spider engageable with said drivingmeans for interrupting the drive to one of said folder shafts forsilencing the folder blade associated with said one folder shaft, andinterlock means including a switch incorporated in the electricalcontrol system of the press and including a switch operator, said switchand operator being located in proximate relation to saidmanually-operated means, and said interlock means including a lockingmember mounting said switch operator and moveable into position topermit operation of said switch only when said manually operated meansis disengaged whereby to preclude operation of said switch and pressoperation so long as said manually operated means is engaged with saiddriving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,997,126 Spillane Apr. 9, 1935 2,026,443 Tomlin Dec. 31, 1935 2,597,932Huck et al. May 27, 1952 2,624,572 Harleso Jan. 6, 1953

